Meeting Between Burhan, Hemedi Expected to Lead to Sudan Ceasefire

Army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. (AFP)
Army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. (AFP)
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Meeting Between Burhan, Hemedi Expected to Lead to Sudan Ceasefire

Army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. (AFP)
Army commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. (AFP)

Sudanese army commander General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Daglo, commander of Rapid Support Forces (RSF), are expected to meet in the coming days in a regional capital, according to sources.

Addressing officers at a military base in the Red Sea, Burhan announced Thursday that he had agreed to engage in negotiations to resolve Sudan’s monthslong conflict.

He expressed readiness to negotiate with the “militia” - a reference to the RSF. He added that he rejects any peace deal that humiliates the armed forces and Sudanese people.

Moreover, Burhan stressed that his forces would remain united and strong.

He further pledged to hold accountable the “cancer of the RSF” and every accomplice that led to the RSF’s capture of Wad Madani.

Several reports, including a one by Asharq TV, said Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq handed a written letter to the Prime Minister of Djibouti and the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) that Burhan is willing to meet Hemedti under certain conditions.

IGAD had suggested a meeting between the two generals, but Burhan refused.

On December 9, IGAD held a summit during which it was announced that the two men would meet to sign a ceasefire agreement and return to dialogue.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken declared that tireless efforts have led to the agreement over the meeting.

On the ground, clashes between the army and RSF erupted on Saturday in the southern villages of the Gezira state, central Sudan.

The Arab World Press quoted eyewitnesses as saying that army warplanes raided the RSF to prevent their progress in Sennar.

They added that the displacement continues from Wad Madani and the villages of Gezira state to the states of Sennar in the southeast and Gedaref, Kassala, and Port Sudan, in the east of the country.



Israeli Soldiers Fire Near Diplomats on Visit to Occupied West Bank

This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. (AFPTV / AFP)
This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. (AFPTV / AFP)
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Israeli Soldiers Fire Near Diplomats on Visit to Occupied West Bank

This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. (AFPTV / AFP)
This frame grab from AFPTV footage shows members of a diplomatic delegation from the European Union reacting after shots were fired as they gathered in the eastern entrance of Jenin camp during a visit to the city of Jenin, on May 21, 2025, amid an ongoing Israeli military offensive in the occupied West Bank. (AFPTV / AFP)

The Israeli military said that it fired near a diplomatic delegation which it said deviated from an approved route in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday.

Diplomatic sources said European diplomats were part of the delegation to the West Bank city of Jenin.

The military said "the delegation deviated from the approved route and entered an area where they were not authorized to be" and that soldiers fired "warning shots to distance them away."

No injuries or damage were reported, the military said.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said she had heard about the incident which happened on a visit by diplomats organized by the Palestinian Authority.

"We definitely call on Israel to investigate this incident and also held these accountable who are responsible for this and any threats on diplomats' lives," she said.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry said a Spaniard was among the group of diplomats, who was unhurt.

"We are in contact with other affected countries to jointly coordinate a response to what happened, which we strongly condemn," it said in a statement.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on X that Israel's ambassador to Rome would be summoned to explain.

Footage on Israeli television showed individuals running to vehicles with diplomatic license plates as shots were heard in the distance.

The Palestinian Authority's Foreign Ministry said "the delegation was undertaking an official mission to observe and assess the humanitarian situation and document the ongoing violations perpetrated by" Israel. The ministry called the Israeli military's actions a violation of international law.

The Israeli military has killed dozens of Palestinians and destroyed many homes in the West Bank since it launched an operation in January in the city of Jenin to root out gunmen.  

Germany's foreign ministry condemned what it called "unprovoked firing" on Wednesday by the Israeli army.

The delegation included a German diplomat and a driver from the representative office in Ramallah, the ministry said in a statement.

The delegation was officially registered and was conducting diplomatic activities in coordination with both the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli Army, the statement said.

"The Israeli government must immediately clarify the circumstances and respect the inviolability of diplomats," it said.